Penguin Party givaway!

We are celebrating today's snow with a giveaway on our Facebook page ... waddle on over to check it out! Penguins will soon star in Penguin themed Valentine's Day party.

Pattern for penguins from the Purl Bee.

A penguin "hello"!

The process behind a party

When I start planning a party, I gather ideas and inspiration everywhere I go. I thought you might find it interesting to see the gathering and inspiration progression for my most recent party.

It starts with a general theme - winter sleigh ride party. Ideas for decorations and DIY are gathered on Pinterest.

I collect photos of possible items to purchase ...

 

As I also love to sew items for my parties, I look for coordinating fabrics that will be highlighted throughout the decor.

(It's fun to look back and see how early ideas looked in the final product!)

Next, I roughly sketch out key aspects of the party like the dessert table and make lists of all the different aspects so nothing is forgetten.

The sketch is then transformed into the real thing ... not bad!

I also play around with ideas I find online to adapt them to theme and color scheme. I found how to for these great hot chocolate on a spoon ideas online, added the theme fabrics and natural accents and the end result was a great favors for guest of the party.

Party hats!

Spent the holiday sewing some fun party hats! Hats are part of some creative brainstorming for a Penguin themed Valentine's Day party. Starting sewing a few penguins too - photos later.

Three Chairs

I've been playing around with fun ways to identify seating for parties - especially for a children's party. A labeled seat helps prevent arguments and helps adults know children by name. A seat with your name makes any party guest feel special!

The back of the chair is painted with magnetic primer and blackboard paint. Chair #1 is labeled with magnetic letters. Chair #2 is chalk. Chair #3 is a picture frame hung from the back of the chair.

Winter Celebration

This year we decided to celebrate the holiday with a celebration in January after the craziness of December was over. We gathered with friends and family for a wagon ride and fireside dinner. Although there was no snow, the weather was unseasonably warm so we had a wonderful afternoon outside.

Invitations from tinyprints.com introduced the celebration and fun to come.

The party was hosted at a local farm who provided the fire site and wagon ride. We arrived with blankets, decorations and dinner.

 The decor incorporated a mix of plaid flannels and burlap with vintage accents and natural elements. The sled I found at an antique store and refinished with runners in bright red. Pine cone trees and plaid reindeer watched over the desserts.

 On the dinner table, our plate rack full of red enamel ware was an eye catching center piece.

 The fire, blanket lined benches and dessert table

 Once guests arrived, we boarded the wagon with candied nuts to snack on.

Guests enjoying hot chocolate and hot apple cider around the campfire.

Table complete with firewarmed chili, chicken stew and pasta. Full menu below - yum!

  Favors were hot chocolate on a spoon ready to take home and enjoy in a mug of hot milk.

Gender Reveal Celebration

 

 We are all excited about the expected baby of our friend's Jess and Ken! To celebrate the baby to be, we hosted a Gender Reveal party in December. The color scheme focused on the big questions - baby girl with bright pink or baby boy with bright blue.

 The invites were custom printed balloons with all the party details.

 When guests arrived, they added their guess for boy or girl to our chalkboard and add their fingerprint "balloon" to our guest book.

 After casting their guess for girl or boy, guest wore a matching pin to share their guess with everyone.

 Jess, the mother to be adds her name to the "guest book".

 

 Refreshments included veggies and dip, buffulo chicken dip and a dessert table full of tasty goodies.

Special cake from Katie, Pastry Chef at Popovers on the Square

 Beautiful decorate cookie onesies as favors.

 

  

The box awaiting the reveal of it's secret within ... is it a girl or a boy?

Congratulations Jess and Ken - It's a girl! We all look forward to welcoming London Noel Goodine in April.